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What is diabetic retinopathy?

What is diabetic retinopathy?

30 November 2021

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People with diabetes can develop an eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. When these blood vessels are damaged, they can swell and leak blood, which could cause permanent blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy affects 50% of people with diabetes between 40-59 years, and about 70% between 60-79. This is in part because this disease does not give any warning signs in its early stages, so there are no symptoms until the damage to the eyes is significant.

The slow and progressive decrease in vision in a diabetic person usually indicates the presence of accumulated fluid in the central part of the retina (macular edema). Other times, the disease presents with an acute intraocular hemorrhage, the first symptom being the sudden and alarming appearance of spots that partially or totally obscure vision. However, it is important to remember that diabetic retinopathy can be present, even in very advanced stages, and not cause any visual discomfort.

The most common symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are:

• Blurry vision

• Floaters

• Slow loss of vision over time

• Sudden loss of vision

Some patients with diabetic retinopathy only need regular visits to the ophthalmologist to monitor their eye condition. In other cases, it is necessary to selectively laser the abnormal blood vessels in the retina to reduce edema, or laser to the ischemic areas (without blood supply) to prevent the disease from progressing to a level of severity.

In more advanced cases, either with intraocular hemorrhage and / or retinal detachment, it is necessary to resort to intraocular microsurgery techniques (vitrectomy), which is usually performed under local anesthesia. Also, intraocular drug injection is very effective in certain cases.

Early detection and treatment significantly improve the visual prognosis of the disease and can prevent the development of blindness. Make your appointment with a specialist.

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